Living the Light Up Night life
By Chris Simon

Photo by Rod Boynton A girl looks into a shop at Light Up Night last year.

Laurie Munroe and her colleagues will be getting lit up Nov. 9.

But the Cookstown business owner doesn't mind, as long as it draws a crowd. Munroe's Will Silk's General Store, along with many other Cookstown businesses will stay open late that evening, to celebrate the village's annual Light Up Night. The event, which will run from 6 to 10 p.m. in the heart of Cookstown's main business district, will feature a Christmas tree lighting, storefront decorations, roving carolers, and a Georgian Bay Steam Show parade. Businesses will also provide treats to patrons, and display their Christmas wares.

"We have the town crier, carolers and Santa Claus," she said. "It's just a really nice night to stroll around the village. It's a free night out. They can see all the decorations and it's just really pretty."

Munroe says the event is expected to draw about 10,000 people to the village. It's one of the largest events in the Cookstown calendar year, and has an important economic impact on area businesses.

"We get a ton of people," she said. "It introduces Christmas to everybody in Cookstown, instead of at Wal-Mart." kick-off to the Christmas season, as merchants lavishly decorate their stores in holiday trimming.

"Everyone has treats in their stores. All the stores are decorated, all the windows are decorated, everything is lit up," she said. "It's like turning us into a Christmas village. You can see what's new for Christmas and meet the merchants. It just gets people in the mood for Christmas."

For many, the event is an annual tradition. The night has been held for about 20 years, and helps usher in the Christmas business season, said Munroe.

"You get enough people in to see your store and stock that it's just a different environment," she said. "The merchants do quite well."